DeCavalcante, who oversaw New Jersey-based gambling, loansharking and labor racketeering from an office in Kenilworth, preferred his mob nickname, "The Count," to the one saddled on him by the press: "The Plumber." However, at least one New York Times article written during his heyday probably put a smile on the respected mob boss's face. It described him as "the smartest and smoothest and least vicious of the aging Mafia leaders in the East."

"Sam the Plumber" had never spent a single night in jail, but that changed in March 1968, when he was indicted following his efforts to mediate a dispute among mobsters over a small illegal dice gambling operation. DeCavalcante's mediation helped scale down a necessary tribute payment to $12,000 (from $20,000). Sam pocketed $3,800 for his effort.

"You know, they were going to give the guys in Canada away to Buffalo."

DeCavalcante's lawyer (former assistant U.S. attorney Sidney Franzblau) filed a slew of pretrial motions to request any electronic surveillance evidence that law enforcement had acquired during the course of its probe of DeCavalcante. The lawyer counted on his efforts to quash the indictment and get the case against the mob boss dropped as had happened in many major cases of that era. The reason: the bugs planted in the Plumber's office were illegal (and part of a larger FBI intelligence-gathering effort focused on the mob following the televised Valachi hearings) and couldn't be used in court.

However, in this instance, the government decided to make an exception. It released all its electronic surveillance recordings -- and the dozen volumes of transcripts were made available.

"I've never heard of the government releasing such information before," a dazed Franzblau remarked for posterity.

The conversations disclosed many major mob revelations. Sam the Plumber, despite the small size of his South Jersey-based crime family, cast a large shadow in the underworld. He was a mediator in many instances for other Mafia bosses, including those based in New York.

Johnny Pops...woulda, coulda.....

DeCavalcante, in fact, had been consulted during the so-called "Banana War," which concluded with the New York Mafia's Commission expelling boss Joseph Bonanno from his position as overlord of the crime family that still carries his name.

However, according to Sam the Plumber's recorded conversations, the Commission almost went a step further.

The bosses then sitting at the table had discussed distributing Bonanno's territory (meaning we likely would be referring to New York's "Four Families").

"You know, they were going to give the guys in Canada away to Buffalo," DeCavalcante was recorded saying. In other words, the Bonanno family's Montreal faction was nearly given to Stefano Magaddino, then the powerful boss of the crime family based in Buffalo, New York.

If Montreal, the key to the Bonanno family's highly lucrative drug business for decades, had been given to Magaddino as the Commission had considered, it would have had "far deeper ramifications for organized crime in North America than anyone, except for the mischievous Stefano Magaddino, probably realized," as noted in The Sixth Family: The Collapse of the New York Mafia and the Rise of Vito Rizzuto.

Had the Commission chose that course of action, Magaddino would've consolidated power over both territories, something the Rizzuto clan achieved in the 1990s, decades earlier. Had that happened "so early in the game," Magaddino's clout would've likely increased exponentially and his man in Canada at the time, Johnny "Pops" Papalia, could have become "one of the richest and most important gangsters on the continent."

Ed, disagree with on the Status of Buffalo family, being from Canada, I spent a lot of time there till recently, as the woman I was dating lives in Buffalo, and even had two cellphones, one the regular Canadian one, the one being a Buffalo based 716 area code. The Buffalo Crime Family is alive, well, and earning. They have about 15 made guys, plus many associates. Met several "guys" while there at a couple different fine dining restaurants, and they seem to be prosperous, and living well. They no longer control Ontario, but they don't need to.They're in their own little world in Buffalo, and they like it that way. Also heard they have a lot going on in Vegas, with a highly respected made guy located out there from Buffalo. Living off Social Security, hardly.

Ed I wanted to comment on the other post but too much chat was going on so I commented here I wanted to ask what's up with dominick cicale you of all people gotta know that no matter what the circumstances are he's still a rat the lowest people I don't care about changing his life around every rat says that who cares it's bullshit , I just gotta ask you personally that do you feel that guys like us who value respect and honor should show sympathy or empathy to rats because whatever their reason for testifying it's their fault they say they got betrayed but no one would betray dominick or any rat if they chose a different life anyway ?? Just want your opinion ed -Anthony D

Anthony, I have no "street cred" nor do i claim to. So why am I here? Why am I here? To create content for a blog; to build my brand via ebooks and even to try to take it all to the next level by having a live Internet event.... It appears there is a market for what I'm doing. I keep saying I'm a journalist not to brag but to make clear I am objective or try to be. Tell me more about who you are and why you feel the way you feel. I'm asking because I'm curious. Why should I have allegiance to an ongoing criminal enterprise? I'm fascinated by the Mafia... I have been and forever will be ....but I am always curious to know who my readers are.

You can email me if you want to at eddie2843@gmail.com ... I am sincere.

Then again... If I were earning off the street and if Omerta were my creed I'd want to distance myself from any evidence of it ...... so I'd insulate myself from it publicly as much as possible. In other words I'd say the same thing....

I lived there for 5 years in the 90's and still have friends out there, the Arm or mob in buffalo is still active but not the powerhouse it once was, I met a few good people out there and still talk to them and they tell me that there are a few capable guys out there and in the last 10 years or so they have been building up. The Arm was very powerful under Maggadino before it split and I doubt they can ever be that big again but I'm sure they will try lol..........thanks Ed

I meant you and me guys like us meaning just other Italian Americans very fascinated by the mob I didn't mean "us" in a connected way I just was asking how you felt about rats I know it doesn't affect you like you said, I know their not your allegiance but I meant don't you think ratting on someone is unjust when you are the reason you are in trouble not taking responsibility for your actions ? I was asking if you agree that if you choose that life it's not fair to rat on people when the only person to blame (in some cases) is yourself for getting in trouble and taking someone else down is wrong ? Not trying to talk bad about dom or anyone just in general any rat

I can't afford to hide behind a moral judgment on this question. I'm trying to build a blog and a business. I'm trying to offer something unique to my readers...I'm also trying to make this a fulltime job for myself. This is not a hobby.

The question I am more interested in discussing is, what do you think of this blog and the stories I write?

I addressed two sides of where I stand on this issue in my comments to the story previous to this one. I poured my heart out in the heat of the moment. My grandfather's friend was Phil Lucky BTW. But I'll try to add more dimension to what I said if you'd really like me to...

I don't like rats. They even have a problem on some level with their actions. I despise Hector Pagan, who really pulled some dirty business but that was the Feds' fault.... also Joe Massino, Frank Lino... guys who lived most of their lives in that thing then flipped after decades of reaping the benefits.. but if any one of them ever called me one day to talk, what would you do if you were me? What would you want me to do if you were you? Seriously...

Another factor is that once I get to know them, many of them become more than just a name, they become friends.... and I cease having a one-dimensional view of them... I know more to the story.. not that it matters but I also don't feel I am entitled to judge them because I never walked in their shoes...

And I know for a fact, Anthony, that things aren't always black and white to the guys themselves. The "Papa Smurf" garbage case provoked by the pedophile Hughes -- there was a guy in that case who flipped -- basically for nothing, because the case imploded -- it mostly bankrupted some of the guys indicted (not the top guys, who have fortunes).... I was talking to someone and he told me in so many words he understood the guy, why he did what he did, etc. So in other words, some guys involved or formerly involved or whatever know there are specific circumstances in each case....and it's not black and white...

That Buffalo crew gotta be tough to deal with the winters they have up there. In the past 20 years or so it's been a trend for some of their crew to make their way out west, Arizona and L.A. and Vegas.

Yea I understand what you mean I was just asking your opinion because the blog is so interesting I wanted to know what you, the writer's thoughts were. how many times can you read a good story or book and acually talk to the writer? not often so your opinion to me was just out of curiosity sorry if I put you on the spot like that I didn't mean to but when you said "what would I do if you were me?" and guys like the ones you named like Massino and all them talked with you? honestly I wouldn't judge them I would talk to them and get information about them, knowing that their insight would make my blog more credible and factual than any mob news out there having real talks with guys like dom and them I might not agree with the choice to flip but couldn't deny a interesting story to write about good talking to you always a great read -Anthony D

DOMINICK CICALE, A FORMER CAPO IN THE BONANNO CRIME FAMILY, ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS
In 1999, Bronx-based Dominick Cicale finished his second years-long bit and hooked up with Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, then an up-and-coming member of the Bronx faction of the Bonanno crime family.

Initially he'd been closely affiliated with "Big Ernie" in the Genovese family.

Roy DeMeo was a ruthless killer -- not a nice guy, not a guy worthy of admiration in any way -- but in the context of Cosa Nostra he is an endlessly fascinating portrait of a mobster who had a great business sense.

Paulie Castellano didn't want to make Roy, but eventually was too greedy not to--Roy was bringing in too much cash to not notice, combined with a blood lust that enabled him to commit torture murders not common even for mobsters.
Roy had a crew of young wannabes, many of whom would eventually get their buttons, such as Gemini Twins Anthony Senter and Joey Testa, who hooked up with the Lucchese's after leaving Roy.

As reported, an FBI bug installed in the home of Gambino family soldier Angelo Ruggiero picked up an intriguing conversation between Angelo and Gene Gotti, a brother of John Gotti.

In the conversation, it is revealed Paul Castellano had put out a hit on DeMeo, but was having difficulty finding someone willing to do the job. Gene Gotti said his brother Joh…

Peter "Peter Pasta" Pellegrino, formerly of the Babylon, New York, restaurant known as Peter’s Italian Restaurant, really is -- or was -- a gangster.

The once-promising Bonanno member who appeared after the Kitchen Nightmares episode aired, now calls himself a brokester. And the Bonanno crime family, with which he was once affiliated has disowned him.

So has the rest of New York's Cosa Nostra, according to FBI documents and Peter Pasta himself.

But before all that he appeared on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares in which he acted very much like the mobster he allegedly was trying to become around the time of filming. (See Peter's Italian Restaurant menu here.)

Back then Peter Pasta was an up-and-coming Bonanno associate who "earned" $15 grand a week bookmaking.

He was considered a dangerous man. A truck hijacker and gun-runner, he was tied to two crime families (the Bonannos and Lucheses) and operated a swag-filled warehouse.

He was known for his nice gold watches and good suits. He also preferred driving around in a Mercedes.

In reality, his name was not Vincent Spinelli, and he was far from being a criminal; in fact, he was an NYPD officer working undercover. The operation lasted three years and led to 42 arrests (21 were reputed Bonanno mobsters, the rest presumably were Luchese members, plus assorted associates -- plus there was at least one grandmother who lived in a social club in The Bronx).

Anthony Colombo died on January 6 in San Diego of complications from diabetes.Anthony was Joseph Colombo's son.When Joseph Colombo learned a boss was planning to take out other New York bosses in order to take control of the Mafia's Commission, Colombo showed fealty to Carlo Gambino and Tommy Lucchese, two of the key targets of the plotting. As a reward for his loyalty, Colombo was then named boss of one of New York's Five Families -- the Profaci family, which was rechristened the Colombo family.I've been working on a story about Anthony but meanwhile I thought it appropriate to republish a previous story we did with Anthony, a Q&A about a book he'd recently written about his father's shooting at the second Italian-American unity day.We want to thank Anthony Jr. for assisting Cosa Nostra News in getting the interview; we offer him and the Colombo family our solemn condolences.Anthony Colombo recently took the time to answer some questions for the following …

Year's Most Popular

Peter "Peter Pasta" Pellegrino, formerly of the Babylon, New York, restaurant known as Peter’s Italian Restaurant, really is -- or was -- a gangster.

The once-promising Bonanno member who appeared after the Kitchen Nightmares episode aired, now calls himself a brokester. And the Bonanno crime family, with which he was once affiliated has disowned him.

So has the rest of New York's Cosa Nostra, according to FBI documents and Peter Pasta himself.

But before all that he appeared on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares in which he acted very much like the mobster he allegedly was trying to become around the time of filming. (See Peter's Italian Restaurant menu here.)

Back then Peter Pasta was an up-and-coming Bonanno associate who "earned" $15 grand a week bookmaking.

NOTE: We will update this -- again, we post it as it includes some questionable assertions. Let us know what you find correct or not, in the comments....We also hear that a friend of ours is sick -- we want to wish him well.... Get better, guy!
Many high-profile organized crime figures reportedly hail from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Many Bensonhurst wiseguys are gone today, dead, in prison or Witness Protection -- or in New Jersey.... Unless of course, they are in another part of Brooklyn or another borough or Long Island, or somewhere else (to cover all bases).

It's one of gangland's most high-profile, enigmatic hits -- and the identity of the killer has been debated for decades.

Thomas "Tommy Two-Guns" DeSimone killed a made member of the Mafia -- and for that, among other things, he was killed in what's been described as a classic setup. The truth is, we know very little about this murder, including who pulled the trigger. (Or fired up the chainsaw depending on who you believe). DeSimone, technically, disappeared, meaning there's zero evidence as to how he was killed; in fact, it can't be said with absolute certainty that he was killed.

Still, he was killed. Guys like him don't just disappear into thin air. They'd never leave New York because everything they want -- a certain lifestyle, basically -- is in New York and cannot be duplicated anywhere else.